Cloned human CD3− lymphocytes with natural killerlike activity do not express nor rearrange T cell receptor gamma genes

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Abstract
Here we report the characterization of T cell receptor (TCR) gene activation in 14 CD3− cloned lymphocytes with natural killer-like activity from different origins. No transcription of either α or β or γ genes is detected in any of these clones. All Jβ, Cβ clusters are in germ-line configuration. The 5 presently described Jγ loci (JγP1, JγP, Jγ1, JγP2, Jγ2) are also in germ-line configuration on each chromosome. These results indicate that several distinct populations of CD3− cloned NK cells do not use γ gene products as a recognition structure. Perhaps more importantly, these cells do not appear to be engaged in the earliest presently known stage of T lymphocyte differentiation, namely rearrangement at one of the Jγ loci.